JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Emergency personnel from the area have been actively involved in Hurricane Helene recovery operations. Nonetheless, this involvement has taken a toll on the responders themselves.

The destruction caused by Helene has had both physical and emotional impacts on the community. For first responders, dealing with a disaster of this magnitude in their own local area proved challenging.

Washington County/Johnson City EMA Director Evan Clyburn remarked, “Most agencies here have been engaged in deployments for large-scale incidents,” referring to experiences including Katrina and 9/11. “The difference with this situation was the impact on our home turf. We had personal connections and familiarity with our communities.”

Clyburn said this experience was unlike anything his team had dealt with.

“It’s one thing to ask you to step up and do what you’ve trained for and what your career is,” he said. “But it’s another thing when you’re in your own neighborhood or your own community and you’re having to deal with your own folks and seeing this level of devastation. First responders, agencies deal with horrific things daily. But not to this extent.”

Melissa Taylor works at the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health office and serves as a leadership team member for the Tennessee Statewide Disaster Mental Health/Crisis Response Team. Although she is unable to give an official diagnosis, she said many of the first responders she works with are showing signs of trauma.

“I can’t say, you know, that individual has PTSD,” she said. “But we are seeing signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and we are seeing those areas of high impact that are being triggers to those individuals.”

In Washington County, responders are actively searching for Nancy Tucker, a county resident missing since the flood. On May 1, officials found the body of another missing county resident, Steven Cloyd. Taylor said these searches and the recovery process can be hard for the responders.

“It weighs on the responder on a daily basis that still know that there are things to accomplish to make sure that everybody in the community has closure,” she said.

Clyburn agreed, citing Taylor and her team as major supporters through it all.

“Deaths and loss of life, unfortunately, is something that we do encounter on a daily basis,” he said. “But in this aspect, I mean, the search part was extended and it’s still going on. So seven months into this, that’s a long time to keep that going. And the support of Melissa and her group from the health department. It’s needed, it’s good.”

Taylor said those impacted will continue to face these traumas throughout the recovery process.

“It’s really not something that you can deal with, cope with and move on,” she said. “Until we come to a final conclusion and the rebuilding is going to take years.”

Taylor said the team will continue to serve first responders and survivors until the rebuild and recovery process is complete.